Memo to TTC workers: Andy’s Angry

In the wake of several embarassing incidents of TTC employees behaving badly, TTC CEO Andy Byford sent a stern message to workers Friday morning.

Here’s a copy of Byford’s letter:

Restoring the Public’s Faith in a Safe TTC

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, the TTC’s image and by extension, our reputation as TTC employees, is once again the subject of intense scrutiny and severe criticism by the media and the traveling public.

To be frank, we can’t complain. In recent days, photos and videos have emerged of staff asleep on the job, texting or appearing to read a newspaper while operating a vehicle, and parking illegally to get a snack. As your CEO, I cannot and will not defend such incidents. Such behaviours are not only unacceptable, they lead to even more scrutiny and potential for assault.

In my time here, I have gone on record as saying how much I respect what front line staff do and how 99 per cent of you do a great job. That remains the case and I will continue to publicly back you.

But a small minority of staff continue to wreck all of our reputations. To them I say: I will not back you, in fact I will expect you to face the consequences of your actions, especially if you put customers’ safety at risk.

Between us, we can transform our company’s reputation and stop this ongoing criticism of what we do. But we can only do this if everyone does their job professionally.

So I have given my managers clear direction: back staff to the hilt that do the right thing or who make an honest mistake. But to those few that choose to ignore safety rules or who recklessly make things worse for their colleagues by their actions, expect to be held to account.

I am convinced we can change this situation and transform everyone’s perceptions of the TTC. Please heed this advice.

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1 comment

Well, well, well, finally a CEO getting paid for what he is actually supposed to do. I was reading a newspaper (which I will not name)a reader mentioned an alternative for CEO was Chief Embezzlement Officer, but Mr. Byford appears to actually fit the original title of which the meaning is
Chief Executive Officer. In other words similar to being a captain of a ship so to speak. Without a good Captain, or for that matter a good rudder, a ship and it’s crew are not directed from point A
to point B. it appears Mr. Byford has initiative to call a spade a spade. Some “CEO’s” are there just
to collect. Perhaps Mr. Byford is finally the right choice to steer the TTC in the right direction, and
perhaps a wake up call to those who are still sleeping. TTC is not a place to do a “catch up” on sleep
especially when there is the public involved. That’s why we have places called “bedrooms” to do that.

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Don Peat

Don Peat is the City Hall bureau chief for the Toronto Sun. He covers municipal affairs at Toronto City Hall, a beat that has him writing about everything from garbage to transit to taxes to multimillion-dollar spending scandals.